Obituaries

Sally Grace Adkins

Sally Grace Adkins, 43, of Bradenton, died June 1.

Born in Falls Church, Va., Mrs. Adkins moved to Manatee County from Annandale, Va., in 1995.

Memorial services are planned for next June, with time and date yet to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to benefit her young son through Frank Cappell at 800-982-3035, or in her memory to National Alliance of Mental Illness, 2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington VA 22201.

Mrs. Boylan moved to Holmes Beach from New England in 1982. She was a mystery writer and puppeteer, writing for the Ellery Queen and Hitchcock magazines, and published several novels, including “Working Murder,” “Murder Observed,” “Murder Machree,” and “Pushing Murder.” She frequently worked Anna Maria Island into her stories, named Santa Martina, which she described as “a countrified little spit mercifully free from the chic which infests so many of Florida’s west coast barrier islands. The climate is subline for six months of the year, perfectly tolerable for three and ghastly during July, August and September.” She was a member of the Artists Guild of Anna Maria Island, and entertained school children in the region with her puppet shows.

Memorial services will be held at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Holmes Beach, at a later date.

She is survived by daughters Virginia Hamilton, and Eleanor Basa; sons Paul Jr. of Clermont,
Edward, and Thomas; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Raymond 'Pig' Guthrie

Raymond “Pig” Guthrie, 85, of Cortez, died Aug. 5.

Capt. Guthrie was a lifetime resident of Cortez and a lifetime commercial fisherman. He was a member of the DAV and the American Legion.

Visitation was Aug. 7, and services Aug. 8. More than 100 people attended the services. Burial was at Skyway Memorial Gardens in Ellenton.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Pig Guthrie used to gill net for mullet off Bradenton Beach, among other spots along the shore of Anna Maria Island. As a young boy, I remember going out at the urging of my mother from our bayfront home to “look pathetic, maybe Pig will throw you a fish or two.” He always did, at least until I got older and, I guess, looked less pathetic, when Mom suggested that a couple of cold beers used for an exchange for mullet might work better to get my family our dinner. That trade worked well, too.

Paul Roat, news editor, The Islander newspaper

Robert A. Krueger

Robert A. Krueger, 71, of Holmes Beach, died Aug. 7.

Born in Detroit, Mich., Mr. Krueger came to Holmes Beach from there in 1993. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was an avid golfer.

No services are planned. Griffith-Cline Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by wife Barbara; daughter Jennifer Lissi and her husband Thomas of Michigan; son Jeffrey of Michigan; stepsons Scott Kay and his wife Maryanne of Indiana, and Steven Kay of North Carolina; step-daughter Shawn Hile and the Rev. Mitchell of Indiana; seven granddaughters; and four great-grandchildren.

Merle E. Lightner

Merle E. Lightner, 81, of Anna Maria, died Aug. 9.

Born in Dixon, Ill., Mr. Lightner worked for 35 years for Commonwealth Edison (Exelon) prior to his retirement in 1981. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Claxton during World War II. He was a graduate of Dixon High School.

Visitation was Aug. 13 and services Aug. 14 in Dixon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Roser Thrift Shop, P.O. Box 247, Anna Maria FL 34218. Preston-Schilling Funeral Home Ltd. was in charge of arrangements.